When you compare cell phones for seniors, it’s easy to get lost in the details. The choice will depend on their needs — will they want a more complex smartphone, a basic flip phone, or a middle-of-the-road phone with standard technology? The most easy-to-use cell phones for seniors are basic flip phones. For those with limited dexterity or bigger fingers, big button phones for seniors work well. The most important features in an easy phone for seniors include:
- A clear, big, bright display
- Good sound and speakers
- Long battery life
- An emergency help button
- A durable build
Best Cell Phone for Seniors:
Jitterbug Flip by GreatCall
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Jitterbug Flip review
The Jitterbug Flip’s simplicity and low price are its most appealing features, making it our top senior cell phone pick. GreatCall is the service provider for The Jitterbug Flip, which is covered by the Verizon network. With Jitterbug, you purchase a monthly plan cost based on the number of minutes and texts you plan to use.
Jitterbug Flip meets all our criteria for a great cell phone for seniors. It has good speakers — you can turn them way up for louder audio and have additional noise cancellation technology to help filter out distracting background sounds. The battery is excellent and can last for 10 hours on a continuous call. There’s 1 GB of storage that can hold 1000 photos, 200 contacts and 50 texts.
The Jitterbug Flip also has an emergency help button seniors can use if they are in trouble. The 5Star emergency service uses GPS to locate the user. The emergency button itself feels a bit different from the other buttons, so you can find it with just touch alone. This 5Star emergency service requires an additional monthly fee. Jitterbug also has a Voice Dial feature where you can call a contact by speaking their name into the phone.
Jitterbug Flip Benefits
Jitterbug Flip is designed with large text and backlit buttons to make it as easy to see and use as possible. The speakerphone setting and super-high volume capability make it easy to hear people you’re talking to on the phone. In most cases, you can keep your current number when transferring to a Jitterbug phone.
What to Consider
The Jitterbug only connects to Wi-Fi when the user presses the 5Star button; otherwise, Wi-Fi is not accessible. If you want a Jitterbug phone but need Wi-Fi, consider the Jitterbug Smart2, which is Jitterbug’s straightforward answer to complicated smartphones.
Who is the Jitterbug Flip Best For?
Jitterbug Flip is the best flip phone for seniors that want a basic, straightforward, affordable phone and do not care about additional features like Wi-Fi or email.
Best Smart Phone for Seniors:
Jitterbug Smart2 by GreatCall
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Jitterbug Smart2 review
Like the Jitterbug Flip, the Jitterbug Smart2 runs on service from GreatCall, part of the Verizon network. The display is bright, clear and easy to read, making it a great choice for seniors who have trouble with other modern phone screens. The interface focuses more on big words in clear fonts rather than ambiguous icons, so it’s easier to navigate than Android or iOS interfaces for most people. The phone has excellent battery life: 5 hours if you’re streaming video, 12 hours if you’re talking on the phone and 17 days if the phone is turned on but not being used. The phone runs a bit slowly, but this shouldn’t be a problem for people who aren’t techies. You can also use voice dictation on the Smart2.
The Smart2 comes with some optional additional features. For $34.99 a month, you can dial “0” and speak to a human operator who can talk you through how to use your phone. For $24.99 month, family members can have access to the GPS location of the Smart2 on their smartphones. Medical professionals can also be available immediately over the phone.
Jitterbug Smart2 Benefits
The apps that come with the phone are easy to use and straightforward, such as phone, text, camera, Internet, email, maps and Lively, the medical alert app. If you’re unhappy with the phone, you can return it for free within 30 days. Plans are also customizable, depending on how much you plan to text, talk and use data.
What to Consider
The unlimited plan, at $49.99/mo, isn’t as much of a bargain as the cost of the phone. The other plans, though, are reasonable. The volume isn’t as loud as we’d like, either. This is surprising, considering how many other senior-friendly features the phone has. You can always test out the phone to see if the level is appropriate for you, but if you are hard of hearing, it might be best to consider another phone.
Who is the Jitterbug Smart2 Best For?
The Jitterbug Smart 2 is best for seniors who want a smartphone but are buying on a budget. The phone is a deal considering its features.